Devices and methods for surge protection device monitoring

ABSTRACT

Example devices and methods for compensating for monitoring a surge protection device are provided. In some embodiments, a device is configured to couple to a surge protection device. The device comprises a processor that is capable of sending a DC current signal. A serial data interface is electrically connected to the processor and includes at least one shift register. The device also comprises a multiplexer coupled to the serial data interface. The serial data interface is operable to direct the DC current through the multiplexer. The device also comprises an analog to digital converter (optionally embedded within the processor) that is operable to output a digital signal corresponding to a voltage induced by the DC current signal. Returned DC signals represent surge protection device&#39;s health and a multitude of other surge module information.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 17/089,912, filed on Nov. 5, 2020, which isa division of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/431,939, filed on Jun. 5, 2019, which is a division of and claimspriority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/134,244, filed on Apr.20, 2016, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent applicationSer. No. 62/151,117, filed on Apr. 22, 2015, and entitled “Devices andMethods for Surge Protection Device Monitoring,” which are hereinincorporated by reference as if fully set forth in this description.

BACKGROUND

Surge protection may be accomplished by connecting surge protectioncomponents between voltage lines that limit the voltage differencebetween those lines. This clamping effect will limit the voltage at thatconnection point by drawing current whenever the voltage exceeds therating of the clamp. By the surge protection component drawing current,this helps protect equipment that is connected downstream from the surgeprotection component. This protection method may be beneficial formultiple reasons including, for example, ease of installation, the sizeof the connection conductors and the surge protection component'sindependence from the size and nature of the equipment being protected.

Surge protection components are sacrificial components in electricalsystems. In other words, surge protection components are designed towear and eventually require replacement. Many surge protectioncomponents, such as Metal Oxide Varistors (MOVs), wear out to a shortcircuit or low ohm value in a very rapid transition. Thus, surgeprotection components may be protected by fuse elements to ensure powerdelivery to other equipment in the event of a failure of the surgeprotection component.

Monitoring the status of these surge protection components may be veryimportant. For example, a protection element that has worn or failed mayneed to be repaired or replaced such that proper surge protection ofdownstream equipment can be restored. Many manufacturers of surgeprotection components include ways to monitor the health, or status, ofa surge protection component. For example, a surge protection componentmay be manufactured to include an internal fuse or switch. In anotherexample, a surge protection component may include filtering capacitors,protection elements connected in parallel, protection elements connectedin series, or active protection elements. One example of an activeprotection element is the shunt voltage regulator described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,856,740.

Multi-mode surge protection devices are devices which comprise a numberof surge protection device components within a single package. Forexample, these “modes” of protection can be connected line-to-line (LLor L-L), line-to-neutral (LN or LN), line-to-ground (LG or L-G), andneutral-to-ground (NG or N-G) across three phases (e.g., A, B, and C).Two example of multi-mode surge protection devices are 7-mode and10-mode devices.

Thus, a need exists to monitor the status (i.e., the health) of thesesurge protection components. For example, a monitoring device may needto identify various surge protection device information, such as thetype of technology, particular setups, particular configurations, surgecapacities, temperature, number and/or type of components, calibrationsettings, and/or technologies or equipment to which it is connected.This identification may require detail about the exact technology andconfiguration of the connected product(s). For example, thisidentification may require detail about the surge protective devicetechnology, the number of protected modes, the amount of installedprotection, and the physical location, among other details. Moreover,safety requirements may require a monitoring device to provide isolationbetween power lines and any user operating the monitoring device.

SUMMARY

Within one example, a device is configured to couple to a surgeprotection device. The device comprises a processor that sends a DCcurrent signal. A serial data interface is electrically connected to theprocessor and includes at least one shift register. The device alsocomprises a multiplexer electrically connected to the serial datainterface. The serial data interface directs the DC current signalthrough the multiplexer. The device also comprises an analog to digitalconverter electrically connected to the processor and the multiplexerthat outputs a digital signal corresponding to a voltage induced by theDC current signal. In some embodiments, the analog to digital converteris embedded within the processor.

In another example, a device is configured to couple to a surgeprotection device. The device comprises a processor that is capable ofsending a DC current signal. The device also comprises a serial datainterface electrically connected to the processor. The serial datainterface comprises a first shift register and a second shift register.The device also comprises a plurality of multiplexers coupled to theserial data interface. The serial data interface is capable of directingthe DC current through the plurality of multiplexers. The device alsocomprises an analog to digital converter electrically connected to theprocessor and the multiplexer that is capable of outputting a digitalsignal corresponding to a voltage induced by the DC current signal.

In another example, a method is provided that comprises detecting, by amonitoring device, the presence of one or more surge protection devicecomponents. The method also comprises generating, by the monitoringdevice, a list of measurement locations based on the detected one ormore surge protection device components. The method also comprisesmeasuring, by the monitoring device for each measurement location, astatus of the one or more surge protection device components. The methodalso comprises generating, by the monitoring device, an output. Thegenerated output is based at least in part on the status of the one ormore surge protection device components.

In another example, a method is provided that comprises coupling amonitoring device to a surge protection device. The method alsocomprises sending, from the monitoring device, a DC current signal to asurge protection device component. The DC current signal generates aninduced voltage at the surge protection device component. The methodalso comprises determining, by the monitoring device, a status of thesurge protection device component based on the induced voltage. Themethod also includes generating, by the monitoring device, an outputcapable of being displayed on a display device. The generated output isbased at least in part on the status of the one or more surge protectiondevice components.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be inany way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments,and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and featureswill become apparent by reference to the figures and the followingdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing an example device for monitoringsurge protection components.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram representing an example device for monitoringsurge protection components.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an example method for monitoring surgeprotection components.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example method for monitoring surgeprotection components.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram representing a portion of an exampledevice 500 for determining information about the components underprotection.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram representing a portion of an exampledevice 500 for determining information about the components underprotection.

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram representing a portion of an exampledevice 700 for module selection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of thepresent disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated inthe figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, anddesigned in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which areexplicitly contemplated herein.

Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates an example device 100for monitoring surge protection components. The device 100 includes aprocessor 110, a serial data interface 120, multiplexers 130 a and 130b, and an analog to digital converter 140.

The processor 110 is capable of sending a DC current signal and iselectrically connected to the serial data interface 120. The serial datainterface 120 includes one or more shift registers, or serial toparallel latches, that are electrically connected to one or moremultiplexers 130 (represented in FIG. 1 as multiplexer 130 a andmultiplexer 130 b). The multiplexers may be digital or analogmultiplexers. The one or more multiplexers 130 are electricallyconnected to an analog to digital converter 140. The analog to digitalconverter 140 is electrically connected to the processor 110 (in someembodiments, the processor may include an analog to digital converter)The multiplexers 130 may be connected to one or more surge protectiondevice components (not shown), such as varistors, thermistors,resistors, capacitors, inductors, fuses, and sensors, among others.

Processor(s) 110 may be a general-purpose processor or a special purposeprocessor (e.g., digital signal processors, application specificintegrated circuits, etc.). The processor(s) 110 can be configured toexecute computer-readable program instructions that are stored in datastorage and are executable to provide the functionality of the device100 described herein. For instance, the program instructions may beexecutable to provide functionality of one or more multiplexers 130 andthe analog to digital converter 140.

It will be readily understood that the aspects of the presentdisclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in thefigures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designedin a wide variety of different configurations, all of which areexplicitly contemplated herein. For example, processor 110 may includeone or more components, such as the analog to digital converter 140.

The data storage may include or take the form of one or morecomputer-readable storage media that can be read or accessed byprocessor(s) 110. The one or more computer-readable storage media caninclude volatile and/or non-volatile storage components, such asoptical, magnetic, organic or other memory or disc storage, which can beintegrated in whole or in part with processor(s) 110. In someembodiments, the data storage can be implemented using a single physicaldevice (e.g., one optical, magnetic, organic or other memory or discstorage unit), while in other embodiments, the data storage can beimplemented using two or more physical devices. Further, in addition tothe computer-readable program instructions, the data storage may includeadditional data such as diagnostic data, among other possibilities.

In operation in some embodiments, the processor 110 sends a DC currentsignal to the serial data interface 120. The serial data interface 120is used to direct the DC current through the one or more multiplexers130. The one or more multiplexers 130 are connected to one or more surgeprotection device components, and the DC current signal induces avoltage across the one or more surge protection device components. Insome embodiments, only one multiplexer is enabled at a time, therebyproviding only one valid path for current. In other embodiments, morethan one multiplexer may be enabled at a time. After the DC currentsignal has been directed by the serial data interface 120 and a settlingtime has elapsed to help minimize anomalies in induced voltages, theanalog to digital converter 140 measures the analog voltage and convertsthe analog voltage into a corresponding digital signal. A settling timethat is sufficient to settle out any anomalies in the induced voltagemay be, for example, 100 milliseconds. However, other settling times maybe used as well.

In some embodiments, the device 100 may be monitoring metal-oxidevaristors (“MOVs”) that include isolated switches for signaling health,or status, of the MOVs. The device 100 may monitor this type of MOV byusing a monitoring resistor (or a series of resistors) in parallel withthe isolated switch. Devices operating according to these embodimentswould use the DC current signal to induce a voltage across this parallelcircuit (instead of, or in addition to, the one or more surge protectiondevice components). Then, the device 100 would similarly use the analogto digital converter 140 to measure the induced voltage across thisparallel circuit, which will indicate the health, or status, of the MOV.As long as the processor 110 knows the normal state of the MOV isolatedswitch, this implementation can work regardless of that normal state.

To ease implementation, MOVs that serve the same or similar purposes canbe connected in series. For MOVs connected in series, the processor 110must know how many MOV circuits it is measuring at that time. Asdiscussed further below, FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate, among other things,some examples of how to measure surge capacity (e.g., how many MOVs areconnected in series), the technology identification, configurationinformation, temperature and other information related to componentstatus (e.g., MOV health, fuse status, how many MOV circuits are beingmeasured, etc.).

The processor 110 may receive information related to various aspects ofmonitored devices from a variety of sources. In regards to the variousaspects of monitored devices, the processor 110 may receive informationrelated to technology identification, configuration, calibration,temperature, and component status, among others. The processor 110 mayreceive this information from a variety of sources. For example, theprocessor 110 may determine this information by comparing measurementsto a database, or list of information. For example, a manufacturer mayhave a database that contains a list of its surge protective devices andtheir related technology, configurations, calibrations, and otherfeatures. The processor 110 may be electrically connected to datastorage where it can store the database. The processor 110 may thencompare measurements (e.g., from the analog to digital converter 140) tothe list of information. In another example, device 100 may include aninput device (e.g., a keyboard and mouse, touchscreen interface,personal computer, or other computing device) such that the processor110 can receive input information.

In some examples, conditions within a surge protection device are bettermonitored using additional circuitry. This type of condition may bemonitored with a transistor switch, as long as the circuit type andvoltage thresholds are known by the processor 110.

In some examples, the device 100 may measure the temperature of a surgeprotection device component. For example, instead of (or in addition to)a monitoring resistor as described above in reference to MOV monitoring,the device 100 may use any temperature sensor, such as a voltage basedtemperature sensor. For example, a switch based temperature sensor, athreshold based temperature sensor, or a continuous based temperaturesensor (such as a thermistor) may be electrically connected to a surgeprotection device component and the device 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram representing an example device 200for monitoring surge protection components. The device 200 includes aprocessor 210, a serial data interface 220, a plurality of multiplexers230 (represented in FIG. 2 by multiplexer 230 a, multiplexer 230 b . . .multiplexer 230 n), and an analog to digital converter 240. Componentsillustrated in FIG. 2 may be similar, and operate in a similar manner,to components described above in reference to FIG. 1 .

The processer 210 is capable of sending a DC current signal and iselectrically connected to the serial data interface 220. The serial datainterface 220 includes one or more shift registers, or serial toparallel latches, that are electrically connected to a plurality ofmultiplexers 230 (represented in FIG. 2 as multiplexer 230 a,multiplexer 230 b, through multiplexer 230 n). The multiplexers may bedigital or analog multiplexers. The plurality of multiplexers 230 areelectrically connected to an analog to digital converter 240. The analogto digital converter 240 is electrically connected to the processor 210.The plurality of multiplexers 230 may be connected to one or more surgeprotection device components (not shown), such as varistors,thermistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, fuses, and sensors, amongothers.

In operation in some embodiments, the processor 210 sends a DC currentsignal to the serial data interface 220. The serial data interface 220is used to direct the DC current through the plurality of multiplexers230. The plurality of multiplexers 230 are connected to one or moresurge protection device component's isolated switches, and the DCcurrent signal induces a voltage across the one or more surge protectiondevice component's isolated switches. In normal operation, only onemultiplexer is enabled at a time, thereby providing only one valid pathfor current. After the DC current signal has been directed by the serialdata interface 220 and a settling time has elapsed, the analog todigital converter 240 measures the analog voltage and converts theanalog voltage into a corresponding digital signal. A settling time thatis sufficient to settle out any anomalies in the induced voltage may be,for example, 100 milliseconds. However, other settling times may be usedas well.

In some embodiments, serial data interface 220 includes two shiftregisters that interface with four multiplexers 230. The first shiftregister produces all of the multiplexer control signals while thesecond shift register is responsible for module addressing (or moduleselection). Module addressing may be accomplished in various ways. Forexample, FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram representing a portion of anexample device 700 for module selection. Example device 700 is intendedonly to illustrate the module selection components and operation, andmay be a part of a larger device, e.g., example devices 100 or 200 andthus may include additional components.

Example device 700 includes a first shift register 720 a, a second shiftregister 720 b, a resistor 750, and connections 760, 762, 764, and 766.In some embodiments, connections 760, 762, 764, and 766 are isolatedswitches. In operation, a module is selected based on which of theconnections is shorted. For example, in some embodiments, moduleaddressing (or selection) may occur according to the following table:

Module Selection Module # 760 762 764 766 1/Single Shorted Open OpenOpen 2 Open Shorted Open Open 3 Open Open Shorted Open 4 Open Open OpenShorted

In some embodiments, the output of the first shift register (e.g., 720a) is enabled when the proper output bit of the second shift register(e.g., 720 b) is low.

In addition to module selection, example devices may further determineinformation about the components under protection. For example, amultiplexer (e.g., 130 a) may be electrically connected to one or morecomponents that indicate or correspond to the information about thecomponents under protection. Examples of information related to thesurge protection device components may include technologyidentification, setup information, configuration information, surgecapacity, temperature measurements, calibration, and/or sense modes(e.g., as illustrated and described further in FIGS. 5 and 6 ).

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram representing a portion of an exampledevice 500 for deter lining information about the components underprotection. Example device 500 is intended only to illustrate portionsof the components and operation and may be a part of a larger device,e.g., example devices 100 or 200 that include additional components.Example device 500 includes multiplexer 530, resistors 550, connections560, 562, 564, 566, and 568. Although the resistors 550 are all shownhere as being identical in resistance values, other resistances could beused as well.

Information related to the technology identification may be determinedby, e.g., the measured voltage across a resistor string (i.e., aresistor or series of resistors). As shown in FIG. 5 , the dotted linesrepresent the addition of one or more resistors to the resistor stringthat is used to identify the technology. For example, in someembodiments, technology identification may occur according to thefollowing table:

Technology Identification Measured Voltage Function PCB 75 mV to 225 mVR2/LM Interface 7578 board 226 mV to 375 mV 440 Series 7568

Information related to the setup may be determined, e.g., by themeasured voltage across a resistor string in combination withconnections (e.g., connections 560, 562, 564, 566, and 568). In someembodiments, the connections may be isolated switches connected inparallel to one or more resistors. For example, in some embodiments,setup information may be determined as illustrated in FIG. 5 (e.g., forconnection 560 and its corresponding resistor string) and according tothe following table:

Setup Measured Voltage Function 75 mV to 225 mV 10-Mode 226 mV to 375 mV7-Mode Otherwise Customizable

If the setup string returns a voltage outside of a pre-determined range,the device (e.g., devices 100 or 200) may be configured with acustomizable response, such as affecting the monitored health of theprotected component, returning an error message, or other information.

Information related to the configuration of the surge protectioncomponents may be determined, e.g., by the measured voltage across aresistor string in combination with connections. For example, in someembodiments, configuration of the protected components may be determinedas illustrated in FIG. 5 (e.g., for connections 562 and 564 and thecorresponding resistor string) and according to the following table:

Configuration Measured Voltage Function 75 mV to 225 mV Split-phase MOVs226 mV to 375 mV Delta MOVs (No N-G) 376 mV to 525 mV All MOV ModesOtherwise Customizable

Information related to the surge capacity of the surge protectioncomponents may be determined, e.g., by the measured voltage a resistorstring in combination with connections. For example, in someembodiments, surge capacity of the protected components may bedetermined as illustrated in FIG. 5 (e.g., for connections 566 and 568and the corresponding resistor string) and according to the followingtable:

Surge Capacity Measured Voltage Function 75 mV to 225 mV 1 MOV per Mode226 mV to 375 mV 2 MOVs per Mode 376 mV to 525 mV 3 MOVs per ModeOtherwise Customizable

Other information related to the protected components may be determinedas well. For example, resistor strings may be used as an indication of7-Mode and 10-Mode calibration. Additionally, a temperature sensor 570,such as those described above, may be used to determine temperature ofthe protected component. In a similar vein as that described above inreference to determining information about the protected components, asense mode may be used to sense whether MOVs have failed within aprotected component. In some embodiments, a sense mode may contain aseries of four resistors 550 in a resistor string and three connectionsconnected in parallel to three respective resistors. In the sense mode,failure of MOVs may be determined according to the following table:

Sense Modes Measured Voltage 7-Mode Function 10-Mode Function 0 mV to 75mV 3 MOVs Failed 2 MOVs Failed 75 mV to 225 mV 2 MOVs Failed 1 MOVFailed 226 mV to 375 mV 1 MOV Failed Pass 376 mV to 525 mV PassCustomizable Otherwise Customizable Customizable

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram representing a portion of an exampledevice 500 for determining information about the components underprotection. Example device 600 is intended only to illustrate portionsof the components and operation and may be a part of a larger device,e.g., example devices 100 or 200 that include additional components.Example device 600 includes multiplexer 630, resistors 650, andconnections LN, LG, NG, M1 and M0. Although the resistors 650 are allshown here as being identical in resistance values, other resistancescould be used as well.

Information related to the technology identification may be determinedby, e.g., the measured voltage across a resistor string (i.e., aresistor or series of resistors). As shown in FIG. 6 , the dotted linesrepresent the addition of one or more resistors to the resistor stringthat is used to identify the technology. For example, in someembodiments, technology identification may occur according to thefollowing table:

Technology Identification Measured Voltage Function PCB 75 mV to 225 mVR2/LM Interface 7578 board 226 mV to 375 mV 440 Series 7568 376 mV to525 mV 600 Series 7583

Information related to the setup may be determined, e.g., by themeasured voltage across a resistor string in combination withconnections (e.g., connections LN, LG, and NG). In some embodiments, theconnections may be isolated switches connected in parallel to one ormore resistors of the resistor string, as well as protected components.For example, in some embodiments, setup information may be determined asillustrated in FIG. 6 (e.g., for connections LN, LG, and NG and thecorresponding resistor string) and according to the following table:

Setup Measured Voltage LN LG NG 75 mV to 225 mV X X 226 mV to 375 mV X376 mV to 525 mV X 526 mV to 675 mV X 676 mV to 825 mV X X 826 mV to 975mV X X 976 mV to 1.125 V X X X

If the setup string returns a voltage outside of a pre-determined range,the device may be configured with a customizable response, such asaffecting the monitored health of the protected component, returning anerror message, or other desirable functions.

Information related to the configuration of the surge protectioncomponents may be determined, e.g., by the measured voltage across aresistor string in combination with connections as described previously.

Information related to the surge capacity of the surge protectioncomponents may be determined, e.g., by the measured voltage a resistorstring in combination with connections. For example, in someembodiments, surge capacity of the protected components may bedetermined as illustrated in FIG. 6 (e.g., for connections M1 and M0 andthe corresponding resistor string) and according to the following table:

Surge Capacity Measured Voltage # Modules Present 75 mV to 225 mV 2 226mV to 375 mV 3 376 mV to 525 mV 4 526 mV to 675 mV 5 OtherwiseCustomizable

Other information related to the protected components may be determinedas well. For example, resistor strings may be used as an indication of7-Mode and 10-Mode calibration. Additionally, a temperature sensor(e.g., temperature sensor 670), such as those described above, may beused to determine temperature of protected components. In a similar veinas that described above in reference to determining information aboutthe protected components, a sense mode may be used to sense whether MOVshave failed within a protected component. In some embodiments, a sensemode may contain a series of four resistors 650 in a resistor string andthree connections connected in parallel to three respective resistors.Alternatively, a pass/fail latch may be used.

Other information about the equipment being monitored (e.g., voltageconfiguration, depopulation, and MOV rating, among others) can be inputto the processor 210 in other ways, for example, those described abovein reference to FIG. 1 .

The second multiplexer is electrically connected to the 7-modemeasurements and calibration string. The third and fourth multiplexersare electrically connected to the 10-mode measurements and calibrationstring. In this example, the device 200 may also include one or morenegative temperature coefficient thermistors, electrically connected toone or more corresponding surge protection device components, formeasuring the temperature of the surge protection device component.

In some embodiments, the surge protection device is based on parallelMOVs with isolated switch outputs. The isolated switch outputs arearranged in series such that each protection mode (e.g., A-N, C-G, N-G,L-N, L-L, A-B, etc.) is represented as a single string. Thus, the device200 can detect the status, or health, of individual MOV signals and theprotection mode can be signaled as having reduced protection. Forexample, the device 200 may be capable of outputting a display signalthat is capable of being displayed on a display device. For example,device 200 may be connected to a monitor and may display an alert that aprotection mode has reduced protection. Alternatively, device 200 may bewirelessly (or wired) connected to a computing device (e.g., asmartphone, laptop, tablet, etc.) and may generate an output that iscapable of displaying an alert on the wirelessly connected computingdevice.

In some embodiments, the 7-mode configuration has a maximum of threeMOVs per mode and has a calibration string with three resistors inseries. In another example, the 10-mode configuration has a maximum oftwo MOVs per mode and has a calibration string with two resistors inseries. Other protection modes and configurations may work equally wellwith devices (e.g., devices 100, 200, 500, and 600), provided theprocessor 210 is properly setup.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an example method for monitoring surgeprotection components. Method 300 shown in FIG. 3 presents an embodimentof a method that could be used by the device 100 in FIG. 1 , the device200 in FIG. 2 , or components of any of the above, for example. Itshould be understood that for this and other processes and methodsdisclosed herein, the flowchart shows functionality and operation of onepossible implementation of present embodiments. In this regard, eachblock or portion of blocks may represent a module, a segment, or aportion of program code, which includes one or more instructionsexecutable by a processor or computing device for implementing specificlogical functions or steps in the process. The program code may bestored on any type of computer readable medium, for example, such as astorage device including a disk or hard drive. The computer readablemedium may include transitory computer readable medium, for example,such as computer-readable media that stores data for short periods oftime like register memory, processor cache and random access memory(RAM). The computer readable medium may also include non-transitorymedia, such as secondary or persistent long term storage, like read onlymemory (ROM), optical or magnetic disks, or compact-disc read onlymemory (CD-ROM), for example. The computer readable media may also beany other volatile or non-volatile storage systems. The computerreadable medium may be considered a computer readable storage medium,for example, or a tangible storage device.

In addition, for the method 300 and other processes and methodsdisclosed herein, each block may represent circuitry that is wired toperform the specific logical functions in the process. Alternativeimplementations are included within the scope of the example embodimentsof the present disclosure in which functions may be executed out oforder from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrentor in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as wouldbe understood by those reasonably skilled in the art.

At block 310, the method 300 includes detecting, by a monitoring device,the presence of one or more surge protection device components. In anexample, this may be referred to as discovery mode, during which thepresence of surge protection device components are discovered. Thediscovery mode may also include comparing the detected components to adatabase, or list, of configuration structures to determine measurementlocations. At block 320, the method 300 includes generating, by themonitoring device, a list of measurement locations based on the detectedone or more surge protection device components. At block 330, the method300 includes measuring, by the monitoring device for each measurementlocation, a status of the one or more surge protection devicecomponents. Block 330 may generally be referred to as measurement mode.At block 340, the method includes generating an output, by a monitoringdevice. The output generated at block 340 is based at least in part onthe status determined at block 330. The output generated at block 340may include a sending a message, setting a flag, displaying an alert, orotherwise providing an indication of a change in the status, or health,of a surge protection device component.

The method 300 may further include halting a measurement. For example,at block 330, the method may further include halting the statusmeasurement. The method 300 may further include continuing, orre-starting, a measurement. For example, if the status measurement atblock 330 is halted, the method may further include continuing thestatus measurement (from the previous location) or re-starting thestatus measurement. The method 300 may further include performing one ofthe blocks additional times. As just one example, method 300 may performthe discovery mode multiple times, such as at block 310, between blocks320 and 330, between blocks 330 and 340, and/or after block 340.

The measurement mode of method 300 may further include an indication ofthe percentage health of the entire module (e.g., from 0-100), apercentage health of a protection mode (e.g., from 0-100), and thepercentage health of particular component (e.g., fuses) on a protectionmode (e.g., from 0-100), among other indications of technology,configuration, calibrations, sensors, and/or components.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example method for monitoring surgeprotection components. Method 400 shown in FIG. 4 presents an embodimentof a method that could be used by the device 100 in FIG. 1 , the device200 in FIG. 2 , or components of any of the above, for example.

At block 410, the method 400 includes coupling a monitoring device to asurge protection device. At block 420, the method 400 includes sending,from the monitoring device, a DC current signal to a surge protectiondevice component. The DC current signal of block 420 generates aninduced voltage at the surge protection component. At block 430, themethod 400 includes determining, by the monitoring device, a status ofthe surge protection device component based on the induced voltage. Atblock 440, the method 400 includes generating, by the monitoring device,an output capable of being displayed on a display device. The generatedoutput is based at least in part on the status determined at block 430.

It should be understood that arrangements described herein are forpurposes of example only. As such, those skilled in the art willappreciate that other arrangements and other elements (e.g. machines,interfaces, functions, orders, and groupings of functions, etc.) can beused instead, and some elements may be omitted altogether according tothe desired results. Further, many of the elements that are describedare functional entities that may be implemented as discrete ordistributed components or in conjunction with other components, in anysuitable combination and location.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, otheraspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes ofillustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scopebeing indicated by the following claims, along with the full scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is also to beunderstood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to belimiting.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: generating, by a monitoringdevice, a list of measurement locations based on a detected presence ofone or more surge protection device components; measuring, by themonitoring device, for each measurement location, a status of the one ormore surge protection device components; and generating, by themonitoring device, an output, wherein the output is based at least inpart on the status of the one or more surge protection devicecomponents.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting thepresence of one or more surge protection device components.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising comparing the one or more surgeprotection device components to one of a database or a list of surgeprotection device configurations to determine the measurement locations.4. The method of claim 1, wherein the output provides an indication of achange in the status of the one or more surge protection devicecomponents.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring, foreach measurement location, an indication of a percentage health of amodule containing the one or more surge protection device components. 6.The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring, for eachmeasurement location, an indication of a percentage health of aprotection mode of a plurality of protection modes.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising determining information relating to the oneor more surge protection device components.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein the determined information comprises an identification of atleast one of a surge protection device technology, mode setup, orcalibration setting.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the determinedinformation comprises an identification of at least one of a surgeprotection device surge capacity or temperature.
 10. The method of claim9, wherein an identification of a surge capacity comprises adetermination of how many of the one or more surge protection devicecomponents are connected in series.
 11. The method of claim 7, whereinthe determined information comprises an identification of a surgeprotection device component configuration.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein the surge protection device component configuration comprises atleast one of 7-mode protection or 10-mode protection.
 13. The method ofclaim 7, wherein determining information related to the one or moresurge protection device components comprises using a database of amanufacturer of surge protection devices.
 14. The method of claim 1,wherein measuring a status of the one or more surge protection devicecomponents comprises measuring a temperature of the one or more surgeprotection device components.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the oneor more surge protection device components comprises at least one of avaristor, a thermistor, a resistor, a capacitor, an inductor, a fuse ora sensor.
 16. A monitoring device comprising: a processor; and a memoryincluding computer program code, which when executed by the processor,causes the monitoring device to: generate a list of measurementlocations based on a detected presence of one or more surge protectiondevice components; measure, for each measurement location, a status ofthe one or more surge protection device components; and generate anoutput, wherein the output is based at least in part on the status ofthe one or more surge protection device components.
 17. The monitoringdevice of claim 16, wherein the computer program code, when executed bythe processor, causes the apparatus to: compare the one or more surgeprotection device components to one of a database or a list of surgeprotection device configurations to determine the measurement locations.18. The monitoring device of claim 16, wherein the output provides anindication of a change in the status of the one or more surge protectiondevice components.
 19. The monitoring device of claim 16, wherein thecomputer program code, when executed by the processor, causes theapparatus to: measure, for each measurement location, an indication of apercentage health of a module containing the one or more surgeprotection device components.
 20. A computer program product comprisinga non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readableinstructions stored thereon, which when executed by a processor, causesa monitoring device to: generate a list of measurement locations basedon a detected presence of one or more surge protection devicecomponents; measure, for each measurement location, a status of the oneor more surge protection device components; and generate an output,wherein the output is based at least in part on the status of the one ormore surge protection device components.